MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Feb 1997
Comparative StudyRates of homicide, suicide, and firearm-related death among children--26 industrialized countries.
During 1950-1993, the overall annual death rate for U. S. children aged < 15 years declined substantially, primarily reflecting decreases in deaths associated with unintentional injuries, pneumonia, influenza, cancer, and congenital anomalies. ⋯ To compare patterns and the impact of violent deaths among children in the United States and other industrialized countries, CDC analyzed data on childhood homicide, suicide, and firearm-related death in the United States and 25 other industrialized countries for the most recent year for which data were available in each country. This report presents the findings of this analysis, which indicate that the United States has the highest rates of childhood homicide, suicide, and firearm-related death among industrialized countries.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Jan 1997
Prevalence of cigarette smoking among secondary school students--Budapest, Hungary, 1995.
Because of the high prevalence of tobacco use in countries of Central and Eastern Europe, public health officials in many of these countries have designated as a priority the prevention of smoking initiation among youth. In 1995, a nationally representative survey in the Republic of Hungary documented that 35.8% of 16-year-old students in that country had smoked cigarettes during the preceding 30 days. ⋯ Specific objectives of the survey were to assess the prevalence of cigarette smoking among these students, determine factors associated with higher prevalences, and describe the smoking habits of current cigarette smokers. This report summarizes the findings, which indicate that one third of all students smoked; half of all 18-year-olds smoked; and of those students who smoked, 41% most frequently smoked an imported, internationally recognized cigarette brand.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Dec 1996
Estimates of retailers willing to sell tobacco to minors--California, August-September 1995 and June-July 1996.
The prevalence of tobacco use among adolescents is increasing, and the most common source of tobacco products for persons aged < 18 years (minors) is retail stores. In 1991, an estimated 29.6 million packs of cigarettes were sold illegally to minors in California, and an estimated 255 million packs were sold illegally to minors nationwide. ⋯ This report describes the retailer education and enforcement program and summarizes the results of the first two annual assessments (Youth Tobacco Purchase Surveys [YTPSs]). The findings indicate that, from August-September 1995 to June-July 1996, among over-the-counter tobacco outlets the percentage of retailers who asked for age identification increased substantially, the percentage of stores displaying warning signs on age restrictions increased, and the percentage of retailers willing to sell tobacco products to minors decreased.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Dec 1996
Involvement by young drivers in fatal motor-vehicle crashes--United States, 1988-1995.
Motor-vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the leading cause of death for persons aged 15-20 years in the United States. Although the 11.9 million young drivers aged 15-20 years constituted only 6.7% of the total number of licensed drivers in the United States during 1995, they represented a disproportionate 14% of all drivers involved in fatal MVCs. In addition, adjusting for the number of miles driven, rates of fatal crashes were higher for young drivers than for drivers in any other age group (e.g., the rate for 16-year-olds was 18 times that for persons aged 30-34 years). This report summarizes trends in involvement in fatal MVCs by drivers aged 15-20 years during 1988-1995; these findings document an overall decline in involvement by young drivers in fatal crashes in the United States.
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MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Nov 1996
Accessibility to minors of cigarettes from vending machines--Broward County, Florida, 1996.
The sale of tobacco products to persons ages < 18 years has been prohibited by law in Florida since October 1992, and since May 1994, a statewide law in Florida has required retailers or owners of businesses that sell cigarettes or other tobacco products to post a conspicuous sign stating that tobacco sales to minors are illegal and that proof of age is required to purchase tobacco products. To assess the impact of these laws in Broward County (1990 population: 1,255,531) during February-March 1996, the Florida Atlantic University Department of Exercise Science/Wellness Education conducted studies of vendor compliance with laws enacted to prevent minors from gaining access to cigarettes through vending machines and to ensure that tobacco vendors comply with the sign statute. This report summarizes the findings of the assessment of access to cigarettes from vending machines, which indicated that approximately one third of such attempts by minors were successful.